23 Different Gemstones and Their 'Powers,' Explained

Despite what you might think, touting the "healing" properties of gemstones isn't just a fleeting Hollywood trend reserved for Miranda Kerr and um, Spencer Pratt. Gems and stones have been believed to hold metaphysical properties, alter our moods, and remedy a spectrum of ailments for thousands of years. Here, we lay out a field guide to the most popular stones and the powers they're thought to possess, from encouraging fertility and boosting creativity to warding off naysayers and negative energy. Think it's all crap? That's fine—but in the end, could it really hurt to surround yourself with more sparkly, pretty things?

AGATE

Price range: $50- $500

Properties: Protection, creativity, and harmony. If your emotions have a tendency to go from zero to 60, this kaleidoscope of a stone might be your best bet—it's an aura-cleansing, balancing gem, intended to harmonize the body and spirit and ward off negativity. Since each agate stone is incredibly different from the next, you'll want to pay attention to the color for additional implications. A bulls-eye style stone, for example, plays the role of the evil eye, providing additional protection from negative people and feelings, whereas blue agate will battle the blues. Expectant mamas should invest in white stones, as they're quite the pregnancy cure-all—soothing morning sickness and labor pains, encouraging healthy milk flow, and providing protection to both mother and child.

AMETHYST

Price range: $50- $500

Properties:Peace, clairvoyance, emotional protection, and sobriety. The purple variety of quartz is essentially the yogi of gemstones: it's about staying grounded while maintaining some higher spiritual perspective. Wearing it while meditating is said to deepen the practice and create a heightened awareness; clairvoyants and psychics rely on the stone to amplify intuition and open all spiritual channels. (Many recommend sleeping with amethyst under your pillow in order to thwart insomnia and encourage lucid dreaming). It's also a healing stone, and can provide relief and peace even in the face of addiction and emotional trauma. Another plus: Ancient Greek mythology insists that this "sobriety stone" is a cure for intoxication. (Maybe it's another hangover cure worth trying?)

AMBER

Price range: $50- $250

Properties: Healing, wisdom, and sexuality. It's technically a resin, not a stone, but amber is prized for its immense healing qualities all the same. Many believe that it wards off negativity, in turn cleansing the mind to allow more room to focus on important and positive matters. (This ideology extends to cleansing physical pain as well.) On the other hand, the warm, fiery hue is also directly associated with the Sacral Chakra—that is, the root of all sexual pleasure.

AQUAMARINE

Price range: $350 -$1,000

Properties: Courage, luck, and inner peace. If public speaking is so not your jam, might we suggest toting this sea-blue gem to your next big presentation? Aquamarine is said to usher in feelings of self-love, calm, and guidance, and to dispel nerves—the perfect cocktail for those on the shier end of the spectrum. And though traveling with something so valuable can be a bit of a gamble, it should be noted that this gem also offers luck and protection particularly to those on the go.

CITRINE

Price range: $150- $650

Properties: Success, money, and inspiration. You may want to populate your office desk with these yellow stones, since they're all about personal growth and prosperity. But while professional success (and an influx of cash) is certainly all well and good, this energy can also extend to less tangible pursuits as well: The gem might provide a strike of inspiration during a creative rut, for example, or help with any relationships that need a bit of smoothing over.

DIAMOND

Price range: $350 and up

Properties: Relationships, love, and mental clarity. It's the strongest gemstone, so it's only fitting that diamonds are said to bond people together (and not just because they're so pretty). And strength is not the only physical element that shares a dual metaphysical benefit—all that multifaceted light bodes well for intellectual and emotional enlightenment. In other words, if you're feeling foggy with decision-making, a diamond might help clear things up.

EMERALD

Price range: $400 and up

Properties: Love, intuition, and abundance. That signature green hue represents rebirth and personal growth—and okay, a little cash, too. But while money can't buy you love, emeralds might get you both—the gemstone is actually most associated with the Heart Chakra. Many also believe it can enhance memory and intuition.

GARNET

Price range: $50- $500

Properties: Manifestation, health, and protection. The word garnet might have you seeing red, but the truth is the stone comes in virtually all colors, each with its own set of metaphysical properties. Still, that common scarlet hue might serve as a reminder of its purported powers: Red garnets are closely associated with the primordial fire, driving all passion, energy, and creativity swiftly forward towards manifestation. (And since they're also a powerful aphrodisiac, you can take that line of thinking as literally as you'd like.) As for the rest of the rainbow, all garnets are natural purifiers: they'll cleanse away and offer protection from any negative energy that stands in your way. The gem is also nicknamed "the stone of health," and is thought to encourage physical wellness and strength—though we'd recommend supplementing this belief with a healthy diet and exercise, just to be sure.

JADE

Price range: $50- $250*

*Most common types of jade (jadeite and nephrite) are generally low-priced, but desirable varieties like Burma jade are extremely valuable

Properties: Balance, luck, and health. Like many other stones on this list, Jade is a bit misunderstood: We know it best for its green hue, but it also occurs in lavender, red, black, yellow, and white. On the other hand, perhaps its most famous color is so famous because of its lucky charm status: People have believed in the green stone's power to cultivate an abundance of health and divine energy for centuries. But that's not to say it won't see you to your successes—a symbol of luck and manifestation, giving jade a rub might put your goals on the path to fruition. Green crystals are also often said to purify and balance the Heart Chakra, allowing the wisdom that emotions are important, but can also cloud proper judgment. But don't necessarily feel tempted to discriminate: In all hues, Jade is a stone of the greater good, protecting any noble pursuits from negativity and harm.

LABRADORITE

Price range: $50- $750

Properties: Magic, transformation, and intuition. Liken this smoky, mystical-looking stone to a crystal ball—metaphysics utilizes it to tap deeply into intuition, recall lost dreams, and clear up a foggy subconscious. All this should bode well for the major personal transformations and life changes labradorite is said to inspire.

LAPIS LAZULI

Price range: $250- $750

Properties: Truth, wisdom, and power. A longstanding symbol of royalty, lapis is all about power—inner power. Connected with the Third Eye (that is, our intuitive and psychic vision), this blue speckled stone might help expand awareness both inward and out, and open the mind to new ideas. In the same vein, there's no keeping secrets with lapis around, since it's all about promoting honest and expression. Fun fact: It's also said to help with menstrual cramps. (Hey—it's worth a try.)

MALACHITE

Price range: $150- $750

Properties: Transformation and protection. If you're heading on a personal journey, you might tote along this opaque green stone for the ride—it's said to simultaneously enhance a metamorphosis and shield away any negative energy that might hinder your growth. And the metaphysical properties extend to real life: If you have a fear of flying, for example, malachite could help quell any irrational fears while also offering protection for the journey.

MOONSTONE

Price: $100- $650

Properties: Calm, femininity, and inner perspective. Would-be navel gazers, take note: Moonstone could give you that final push to slooow down and look inward. And much like the moon that it's named for, this stone is a symbol for women everywhere—enhancing feminine energy, and offering protection through pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond.

OBSIDIAN

Price range: $50- $650

Properties: Protection. This black volcanic rock's prime gig is to ward off negative energy while helping to heal any existing inner scars. But if you're so lucky to nab it in a green hue, it'll target a specific kind of negativity—those naysayers who tend to suck the life-energy out of any situation.

ONYX

Price range: $50 - $650

Properties: Protection and healing. Obsidian and onyx aren't just similar in appearance—they offer nearly identical metaphysical benefits as well. This stone is worth keeping around if you tend to encounter folks who focus energy on themselves—and in doing so, take your energy along with them. (We all deserve ample me time.)

OPAL

Price: $150- $750

Properties: Creativity and inspiration. Fun fact: Opals naturally contain large amounts of water. What this means on a metaphysical level is that these stones are all about going with the flow—you can rebound and move forward in spite of obstacles. And as for those iridescent colors that dance and change with the light? View them as a metaphor for spontaneity, creativity, and inspiration—and just a bit of unpredictability. Yep—this is truly your YOLO stone.

PEARL

Price: $50- $750

Properties: Calm, honesty, and femininity. Pearls are as pure and earnest as they look—they encourage openness, bring truths to light, and supposedly quell destructive behaviors. If you're aiming to get in touch with your inner goddess, you might also try keeping these around. Plus, they're also incredibly versatile—our fellow editors at ELLE China love using pearl powder to make skin shine, and—who knew?—it's so chock full of calcium, trace minerals, and amino acids, many people tout taking it orally.

QUARTZ

Price: $50-$550

Properties: Meditation, energy, and clarity. It shouldn't be too tricky for you to go stock up on quartz—it happens to be the second-most common mineral on the planet. That being said, there are many varieties, three of which you've already read about here (agate, amethyst, and citrine). In clear form, quartz is the perfect supplement to a growing crystal collection, as it is believed to amplify the benefits of other stones. It does the same to your thoughts, making it that much easier to focus and find your center during your next meditation sesh. Looking for a boost in your romantic endeavors? Try rose quartz on for size.

RUBY

Price: $500 and up

Properties: Energy, courage, and love. Interestingly enough, rubies are essentially just red sapphires—they both come from the stone Corundum; the moniker "sapphire" just represents all hues aside from red. (Geology lesson over.) That being said, rubies are considered to be one of the most powerful stones, packed with a fire that connects directly to the Root Chakra (the very base of your body's energy flow). If you're feeling at all lethargic in pursuits of the mind or body, this is the stone to covet: It'll boost stamina in all aspects of your life. This includes the bedroom—rubies are believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac.

SAPPHIRE

Price: $400 and up

Properties: Calm, intuition, and positive energy. Again, sapphires are many-colored, so each hue boasts its own properties. However, the connecting thread is this: Sapphires as a whole are powerfully connected with the Third Eye, encouraging higher intuition, serenity, and all-around good vibes. (It is worth noting that these powers are particularly strong in the very common blue variety.)

TOPAZ

Price: $250 and up*

*Price depends on color. Blue topaz is the most common and generally commands the lowest price.

Properties: Balance, calm, health, and honesty. If you're feeling anxious, burnt out, or just generally out-of-whack, topaz could very well be your crystalline cure-all. This very versatile stone is said to realign the meridians—or energy points—of the body, relieve tension, and keep emotions in check. If you think it's time to practice some tough self-love, stock up on the blue version of these gems, which are believed to stimulate honesty and clear communication with oneself and others.

TOURMALINE

Price: $300 and up

Properties: Compassion, understanding, and positive energy. If you're looking (or needing) to fall in love with yourself, let tourmaline be your guide—this stone is all about emotional self-pampering. Tourmaline occurs in quite a spectrum of colors, but if you can find a watermelon tourmaline—that is, a stone with a green exterior and a red core—you're in luck: This is a color combo coveted for its ability to open up the heart to gratitude, empathy, and happy feelings.

TURQUOISE

Price: $50- $750

Properties: Self-acceptance, healing, love and an appreciation for nature. It's a cliché that those with a bohemian aesthetic tend to favor turquoise, but maybe it's because the stone has a "back to the roots" kind of mojo. It's said to build unity with the Earth and an appreciation of its beauty—and some even believe it can combat pollution. (If it were only so easy.) This cohesion extends to pursuits of the heart as well, as turquoise is believed to combine female and male energies together as one.

Victoria Dawson HoffAssociate EditorVictoria Hoff is the associate editor at ELLE.com, covering everything from fashion to beauty to wellness.

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